Tomorrow we decide who will lead our country, who will represent us in Washington, who will lead our Hoboken district schools, and whether we want Hoboken to be as affordable as possible, or not.
Some pretty big decisions that effect all of us and I hope you plan to make your voice heard by voting. Polls open tomorrow at 6am and remain open until 8pm. Anyone in line at 8pm will be allowed to vote.
But today we are going to cover a few important local topics that are top of mind for Hoboken neighbors…
- 11/6 Public Safety Community Meeting in Response to Assault in CSP
- Addressing Homelessness with Compassion and Accountability
- Hoboken PATH Train Station Closure from January 31 to February 25th
- Sinatra / N. Sinatra Drive Barricades – Update
- Free Sunday Parking in Hoboken – Changes Coming November 17th
11/6 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNITY MEETING
IN RESPONSE TO ASSAULT IN CHURCH SQUARE PARK
Please join me Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council chambers at City Hall for an in-person community meeting with Hoboken’s public safety leaders including Mayor Bhalla, Police Chief Aguiar, and Public Safety Director Ferrante, to address residents’ growing concerns about safety in Hoboken.
What prompted this long overdue public meeting is not the ongoing issues from delivery e-bikes but rather a tragic, random incident in Church Square Park on Halloween afternoon. Two people were physically assaulted, with one, a nanny, left unconscious. Thankfully, she is recovering, the family she provides care for has set up a GoFundMe to assist in her recovery, and our community is rallying around them as we do.
Residents have raised concerns about dangerous behavior in Church Square park for months. It was the main topic at the October CAPS meeting at ONieals, but the generally feel seems to be that the city has not done enough to address these concerns. The assailant, known by our police for prior offenses, had committed multiple assaults in the past year. New Jersey’s bail reform laws including the discretion judges have to determine if someone is held until trial, are what put this individual back on the street, creating an ongoing public safety threat. Thankfully our police responded quickly and made an arrest, but stronger measures are needed to deter dangerous behavior like this.
I am fully supportive of our police force and Chief Aguiar. But what our city’s current approach to public safety lacks IMHO, and desperately needs, is:
INCREASED EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY POLICING
There are two basic types of policing: reactive crime fighting policing and proactive community policing. It is critical to have a balance of both. In Hoboken, to meet our community’s needs, I feel strongly that the balance must shift more towards community policing, including foot patrols in our most densely populated areas. I have advocated for this approach ad nauseum since first elected nine years ago and as a result, saw brief, albeit temporary efforts which had immediately successful results. Community policing is essential for deterring harmful actions and building strong relationships. As I've reported to you before, Chief Aguiar agrees and he already has a goal to put more officers on foot. But IMHO we need to see this shift in approach be ASAP and have it be permanent.
SUFFICIENT POLICE RESOURCES
Hoboken’s population has grown by 20% in the past decade, but our police force has not expanded at all to meet these increased needs. Consistent coverage across our busiest areas requires more officers. For example, on Halloween, there was a patrol car stationed at Church Square Park, but it was called away to another issue when the assault occurred. I will be looking for Mayor Bhalla to include funding for an expanded police department in his 2025 budget proposal to the City Council—a process that’s starting now. How many? I don't know but as a member of the City Council Public Safety Subcommittee, I will work closely with our public safety leaders to determine the staffing levels necessary to achieve the safe, proactive presence our community deserves. While setting priorities and directing resources is the mayor’s responsibility, I am committed to ensuring that new taxpayer funded investments in public safety are used effectively and not wastefully. Hoboken needs the right resources and a smart approach to deliver better results.
SECURITY CAMERAS IN PUBLIC SPACES
Security cameras are a proven deterrent and an invaluable tool for bringing offenders to justice. We know that Hoboken PD have worked closely with neighbors who have door bell cameras when they are investigating a crime. Hoboken currently has few cameras in public areas, and I was surprised to learn this hasn’t been more of a priority until recently. As the “council subcommittee of one” for 5G poles, I’ve been working for the past couple of years with city administration, Police Chief Aguiar, our city engineer, and telecom companies to expand camera coverage across the city, including along the entire waterfront, in our parks, and the new Cove Park which is currently under construction.
The top priority of any mayor and city leader should be the safety of residents. A proactive, well-resourced public safety strategy that emphasizes community engagement is crucial. I urge Mayor Bhalla to prioritize this in his 2025 budget he delivers to the City Council and shift unnecessary spending toward ensuring our community’s safety.
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS WITH COMPASSION AND ACCOUNTABILITY
After the assault in CSP, I heard from several residents about the state of safety in our public spaces and the City’s underwhelming approach to homelessness. As I have discussed with you before, like most communities across America, we are grappling with the real impacts of homelessness from mental health crises to public health and safety concerns. I believe the administration’s response of leaving critical responsibilities to just two social workers without the broader support they need is not enough. We need a better approach, but one that still addresses housing insecurity and mental health issues without treating homelessness as a crime.
These are some ideas that I believe are within our reach and could help make a meaningful change but at its core, it is partnerning with outside agencies to delivery better outcomes:
DEMAND MORE FROM HUDSON COUNTY
When our new County Executive Craig Guy took office this year, I immediately spoke to him about how the County could better support those in Hoboken with housing and food insecurities. This was perfectly aligned with his own priorities. As a community, we are lucky to have the Hoboken Homeless shelter which provides short term accomodations to our unhoused neighbors. But I pointed to the successful Single Resident Occupancy (SRO) housing with integrated behavioral health services at the former YMCA in Hoboken that provides dormitory style housing for 96 men who would otherwise be unhoused; and I suggested to him that it be a model to replicate across the county. Hudson County has a plethora of resources and social services to support residents experiencing all types of needs including food and housing insecurities and mental health challenges. Although Hoboken taps into some of these , we can, and should, have more meaningful support. I regularly engage directly with County Executive Guy, County Commissioner Chair Romano and other Hudson County officials to better access more resources from the county and will continue to do so.
EXPAND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND OUTREACH
Our two social workers and Constituent Services Manager do commendable work, but they’re under-resourced and overstretched. I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact they can have, such as helping Rafi, a familiar figure in the 2nd Ward, secure ID documents and get on the waiting list for the HHA. Our library also has social workers who have built rapport, holding regular meetings with our unhoused neighbors to understand their needs. I learned, for example, that some individuals are not ready for the responsibilities of traditional housing. So maybe for them, SRO housing could be the right fit, providing stability without added pressures. By partering together, taking a wholistic, county-wide approach, understanding the various needs of this community, expanding access to behavioral health support and investigating and investing in a variety of housing options, I know we can offer more meaningful solutions.
IMPLEMENT CONSISTENT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES
As mentioned above, community policing that includes regular foot patrols in high-traffic areas can enhance public safety by providing a visible presence that deters harmful behaviors. It would also allow officers to build relationships and support safer public spaces, especially for families and children. This consistent approach is essential in balancing compassion with the need for safe, accessible shared spaces.
Stating the obvious, homelessness is complex and is a vicious circle driven by housing and food insecurites and mental health issues, and it requires a serious, effective approach—not empty promises and understaffed programs. We need our leaders, and I count myself in this category, to actively seek out best practices from other communities and leverage national resources to build a Hoboken that is safe, compassionate, and proactive in addressing homelessness. We can and must do better.
HOBOKEN PATH TRAIN STATION CLOSURE FROM JAN 31 TO FEB 25
In case you had not yet heard, the Hoboken PATH Station will close for 25 days beginning at midnight on 1/30, reopening at 5 am on 1/25. The Port Authority presented their plan to the City Council two weeks ago in a closed session. Yes, I can tell you that we all were taken aback by the prospect of this and the impact it will have on up to 20,000 riders who ride the PATH out of Hoboken daily, many from Hoboken. But we have been through this before – after 9/11 when PATH service was disrupted without notice or an ending date. This time, though, it is planned and PANYNJ have been thoughtful in advance in determining when and how to assist travelers to minimize disruption. There will be public info sessions held on November 12 and 13, with a virtual option on December 10. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions or suggestions you have.
This planned closure will allow for major upgrades and much needed repairs to improve safety, reliability, and overall rider experience. Key improvements include:
- Platform & Stairway Repairs: Restoration of concrete platforms and four stairways between mezzanine and platform levels.
- Track & Switch Upgrades: Replacement of the intricate track-switching network and 4,500 feet of in-station track to enhance service reliability.
To minimize inconvenience, alternative travel options will be provided, including cross-honored ferry service, shuttle buses, and additional trains and buses:
- Ferry Service: Ferries from both Hoboken North and South terminals will depart every 10 minutes during peak hours, serving Battery Park City and Midtown Manhattan. Just show your PATH card.
- Free PATH Shuttle Buses: Frequent shuttles will connect Hoboken to Newport and Exchange Place PATH stations.
- NJ TRANSIT No. 126 Bus: Increased frequency on the 126 line will connect Hoboken to Midtown Manhattan’s bus terminal.
- PATH & Light Rail Services: Extra PATH and NJ TRANSIT Light Rail trains will run, particularly during rush hours, to help Hoboken commuters reach other PATH stations.
For the latest updates, download the RidePATH app or check the project’s website. As you can imagine, this will have a big, negative impact on Hoboken Taxi drivers who make their living taking people to and from the PATH Station in Hoboken. We have asked the PANYNJ to consider a way to support these drivers during this time.
SINATRA / N. SINATRA DRIVE BARRICADES – UPDATE
Good news! We’re getting closer to removing the barricades near the Shipyard Dog Park, while the ones on Sinatra Drive near the skate park will stay up a bit longer due to the larger scale of work needed. Here’s where things stand:
- Shipyard Park Barricades: The final hurdle is an engineering sign-off by Applied/Ironstate, which could happen any day now. Once that’s done, we’ll see these barricades come down.
- Sinatra Field to Sinatra Drive North Barricades: This area requires a significant repair and restoration effort. Although it may have seemed inactive, preliminary work has been ongoing. Next week, the city’s engineer will begin an in-depth assessment, including borings, to evaluate the existing conditions and develop the repair design. The design phase is expected to wrap up by January, with repair work following soon after.
The aim is to complete repairs by summer. However, I’m cautiously optimistic, recognizing there may be delays, especially since work in the water is restricted during migration seasons. I’ll keep you updated as we progress.
FREE SUNDAY PARKING IN HOBOKEN – CHANGES COMING NOVEMBER 17TH
As I mentioned in my September 3rd update, the City Council recently voted on adjustments to parking rates across Hoboken, including a proposal to end free Sunday parking in "business areas." I want to make it clear that I completely oppose ending free Sunday parking anywhere in Hoboken. However, there’s more to the story on why I ultimately voted yes.
The initial proposal defined "business areas" broadly, which could have impacted parking across multiple neighborhoods. I had significant concerns with this vague definition, especially with how it could negatively impact residents and visitors alike. After discussions, the sponsors agreed to support an amendment I proposed, limiting this change to Washington Street only. Given that the ordinance was likely to pass regardless, I voted in favor, seeing that my support helped secure a more targeted approach. My vote wasn’t for the policy itself but for a “less bad” alternative, thanks to the changes we negotiated.
If my vote had been the deciding fifth vote, I would have voted no—but in a group setting, sometimes compromise is necessary to achieve the best possible outcome for Hoboken. I will continue to advocate for parking solutions that make sense for everyone in our community.
Ending on a lighter note, come out tomorrow night after the polls close to the Madison Bar & Grill to watch election results pour in. NJ race results should happen early, by 9. While results of contentious races, including the presidency, will happen later. I have it on good authority that for those with an "I Voted" sticker, there will be a special election drink, and some pizza and wing specials in the spirit of presidential elections. If you don't have yours or lost it, I have a few extras. All are welcome - and by all, I mean all. Although we may not be in agreement on who should be our next president, we have one really important thing in common - we love Hoboken and we love our community. That is what matters most.
Little known fact about “I VOTED” stickers in Hoboken. In 2017, JC Mayor Fulop said on social media that he would buy "I Voted" stickers for Jersey City in 2018 if the County didn't and I joined and said I would buy then for Hoboken... When 2018 came around, Fulop did not get them for JC, but I did for each of the 40 polling locations in Hoboken! As a result, the other towns in Hudson County found out and wanted to know where there stickers were, so the Hudson County Board of Elections reached out to me to see if I had extras and managed to secure enough for the rest of the County last minute that year! And from there our Hudson County Clerk E. Junior Maldonado said we will now always have them! May seem silly, but an I Voted Sticker is a badge of honor and something you can share with children to talk about the importance of voting. This is something I am very proud of so get your sticker and wear it proudly!
As always, please share this with everyone you know who may be interested and reach out any time on any issue important to you: 201-208-1764 or [email protected].
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